You’ve seen him standing behind a desk for over twenty years. Usually, we only see Jimmy Kimmel from the chest up, framed perfectly for a 16:9 television screen. But whenever he steps out into the center of the stage to deliver a monologue, or stands next to a massive NBA star like LeBron James, people start hitting Google with the same question: how tall is jimmy kimmel?
There’s a weird obsession with celebrity heights. Maybe it’s because the camera lies. A tight lens can make a short actor look like a giant, and a wide shot can make a tall host look like a hobbit if the furniture is big enough.
Honestly, the answer to how tall Jimmy Kimmel is depends on who you ask—the man himself, or the internet sleuths who spend their time analyzing red carpet photos.
The Official Number vs. The Reality
Jimmy has claimed in the past to be 6 feet 1 inch.
That’s a respectable height. It puts him well above the average American male, who usually tops out around 5 feet 9 inches. But if you look at sites like Celebrity Heights, which is basically the FBI of measuring famous people, they peg him at 5 feet 11 inches.
It’s a classic Hollywood move. Everyone adds an inch or two.
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Why? Because in the world of entertainment, being "six feet tall" is a psychological threshold. It’s like pricing something at $19.99 instead of $20.00. Being 5’11” makes you "average-plus," but being 6’1” makes you a "tall guy."
If you watch his show, you’ll notice he doesn't look small. When he did a bit with 6'7" Reggie Miller, Miller jokingly guessed Jimmy was under six feet. Jimmy’s reaction was classic—he acted offended, jokingly saying "How dare you!" It’s a recurring bit of humor on the show, but it points to a real truth: Jimmy cares about being seen as a tall guy.
Comparison is the Thief of Height
To really figure out how tall is jimmy kimmel, you have to look at the people he stands next to every night.
- Jimmy Fallon: Fallon is widely cited as being exactly 6 feet tall. When the two Jimmys stand together, they look almost identical in height. This supports the idea that Kimmel is likely right around that 6-foot mark, perhaps a hair under it.
- Conan O'Brien: This is where the scale gets broken. Conan is a legitimate giant at 6 feet 4 inches. Next to Conan, everyone looks short. Kimmel looks significantly smaller when they share a frame.
- Guillermo Rodriguez: Jimmy’s sidekick and friend is much shorter, which naturally makes Jimmy look like a towering figure by comparison.
The "Kimmel Height Mystery" exists because late-night sets are designed to be cozy. The desks are high, the chairs are plush, and the lighting is meant to focus on faces. You don't get a sense of scale until someone like Shaquille O'Neal walks through the curtain.
Why We Even Care About This
Height is a proxy for presence. For a late-night host, looking "commanding" but "approachable" is a fine line. If Kimmel were too tall, he might seem intimidating. If he were too short, he might lose that "host of the party" vibe that ABC pays him millions for.
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Basically, he’s at the perfect height for a talk show host. He’s tall enough to wear a suit well—which he does, usually custom-tailored by labels like Tom Ford—but not so tall that he can't relate to the "average Joe" in his "Lie Witness News" segments.
There’s also the "camera crew" factor. On Reddit, former production assistants have mentioned that the Jimmy Kimmel Live! outdoor segments on Hollywood Boulevard often have to skip interviewing very tall people. Why? Because it’s a pain to constantly adjust the tripod and the lighting for someone who is 6’5” when the interviewer is closer to 6’0”.
It’s a logistics thing. Television is built for average-to-tall people.
The Technical Breakdown
If we’re getting scientific about it, here is the data we have:
- Self-reported height: 6’1” (185 cm)
- Likely actual height: 5’11” to 6’0” (180–183 cm)
- Shoe size: Roughly a US 11 (based on his frame and typical proportions)
Interestingly, height can fluctuate throughout the day. You’re actually taller in the morning because your spinal discs haven't been compressed by gravity yet. Maybe Jimmy measures himself right after he wakes up before he heads to the studio.
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Actionable Takeaways for the Curious
If you’re trying to settle a bet about how tall is jimmy kimmel, here is how to look at it like an expert:
- Ignore the shoes: Celebrity shoes often have a 1-inch heel or even hidden "lifts." Always look at the eye level relative to other guests.
- Check the posture: Jimmy has a very "straight-up" hosting posture, which adds to his perceived height.
- Look for the "Late Night Standard": Most hosts (Colbert, Fallon, Meyers) all hover around the 5’11” to 6’0” range. It seems to be the industry's "sweet spot."
Ultimately, whether he’s 5’11” or 6’1”, Kimmel has managed to stand tall in the late-night world for over two decades. His height is just one of those trivia nuggets that keeps fans guessing while he keeps the ratings steady.
To get the most accurate sense of his height yourself, keep an eye on his next "Mean Tweets" segment where he stands in front of a neutral background. Or better yet, wait for him to host the Oscars again—the wide shots of the stage next to various actors provide the best "real-world" measurement you’re ever going to get.
Next Steps for Researching Celebrity Stats: If you want to verify these numbers yourself, your best bet is to check high-resolution photos from the Oscars or the Emmys where Jimmy is standing on a flat stage next to actors with verified heights, like Tom Hanks (6'0") or George Clooney (5'11"). You'll see the 5'11" - 6'0" range is the most consistent result.